CEW+, the Council for Nontraditional Students (COUNTS), and University Human Resources Organizational Learning are coming together to develop an online training module targeting student-facing staff. The COUNTS Toolkit for Student Success is designed to enhance how University staff engage and support nontraditional students.

The Toolkit highlights a variety of experiences, challenges, and topics that many nontraditional students face on the Ann Arbor campus. The Toolkit is intended for student-facing staff to 1) develop an increased awareness of nontraditional students and the common challenges they face; 2) learn about resources across campus that help address the needs of nontraditional students, and 3) build recognition of the many strengths nontraditional students bring to campus. Module topics include impostorism, wayfinding, navigating the hidden curriculum, and addressing financial obstacles.

One early achievement of the initiative has been highlighting and amplifying nontraditional student voices. In December 2018, CEW+ interviewed and recorded 13 nontraditional students who shared their unique experiences on campus as it related to the module topics. Each student fearlessly and candidly shared their story in hopes of creating a positive change for the students who will follow. Watch the video above to meet some of the students we interviewed.

The COUNTS Toolkit for Student Success is now available here.